Seoul City to Launch Audit of 'TBS Operations'... Will Appearance Fees for 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' Also Be Examined?

Host Kim Eo-jun of TBS's flagship program 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory.' / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Seoyoung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it plans to begin an audit of TBS (Traffic Broadcasting System) around mid-this month.

An official from Seoul City stated in a recent phone interview with Yonhap News, "We plan to start an institutional operation audit of TBS around mid-this month," adding, "We will thoroughly review all aspects of operations including personnel, recruitment, and budget." This audit will be the first institutional operation audit conducted since TBS became an independent foundation.

The official explained, "This is not a special audit but a routine comprehensive audit conducted every three years," and added, "The last audit was in 2019, and the audit period has come around again." He further noted, "The preliminary and main audits usually take about a month," and mentioned, "The audit schedule might be delayed due to the Lunar New Year holidays."

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon. / Photo by Yonhap News

Regarding whether the appearance fees of Kim Eo-jun, the host of TBS's flagship program 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory,' will be subject to the audit, the official responded, "Program scheduling is not subject to audit as it would violate the Broadcasting Act," but added, "If it concerns contract-related matters, such as whether the (appearance fees) are appropriate, the contracts can be reviewed."

Earlier, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon mentioned during the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee's Seoul City audit in October last year that he was "considering various plans" regarding the political bias controversy surrounding 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory.' Additionally, on the 17th of last month, he emphasized on his Facebook, "TBS was newly launched as an independent corporation two years ago," and stated, "True independence must come with obligations and responsibilities, among which financial independence accounts for a significant portion."

Starting as the Traffic Broadcasting Headquarters under Seoul City in 1990, TBS became independent from Seoul City in February 2020 by establishing a separate foundation called 'Seoul Media Foundation TBS.' However, financially, it has not achieved full independence as it still relies on more than 70% of its budget (as of last year) from Seoul City's subsidies. This year, Seoul City's subsidy to TBS was finalized at 32 billion KRW by the City Council on the 31st of last month. This amount reflects a restoration of 6.8 billion KRW out of the initially cut 12.3 billion KRW, reducing the net cut compared to the previous year to approximately 5.5 billion KRW.